Method and apparatus for storing material within a container which is exposed to rain

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for storing a material in a container which is exposed to various weather conditions, including rain. The container includes a spreader for distributing the material within the container, as well as a rain shielding member extending from the container for inhibiting the flow of rain along a converging portion of the container. The method includes forming the container having a cover, a sidewall member, a converging portion connected to an outlet portion and a rain shielding member. Thereafter, during a rainfall, the flow of rain is deflected along the cover and the sidewall member away from the converging portion to maintain the converging portion of the container in a substantially dry condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No.08/126,270, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING GRANULARMATERIAL WITHIN A CONTAINER", filed Sep. 24, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No.5,421,379.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the storage of granular material such asanimal feed, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for storinggranular material within a container which is exposed to various weatherconditions, including rain.

2. Description of the Related Art

In various industries such as those involving agriculture andmanufacturing, it is often necessary to store relatively large amountsof granular material. In agriculture, for example, it is often necessaryto store substantial quantities of feed for animal husbandry operations.When used in such industries, the granular material is often initiallyloaded into an opening located at the top of a container which is usedfor temporary storage of the granular material. The granular material isthen later removed from the container immediately prior to use throughan opening located at the bottom of a funnel-shaped portion of thecontainer.

Depending on the nature of the granular material that is being stored,there are often difficulties associated with using such containers. Forexample, granular material may often include a number of differentconstituents which tend to separate when loaded into a container. Forexample, feed for chickens generally includes a fine constituent whichtends to be located in the center of the container while the containeris being loaded, as well as a coarse constituent which tends to belocated near the walls of the container when the container is beingloaded. Because the constituents separate in this manner when they areloaded into the container, it is not generally possible to remove thegranular material from the container with the same proportion ofconstituents as was present when the granular material was loaded intothe container. In animal husbandry operations, this separation of theconstituents of the feed may typically cause lower productivity.Accordingly, there is a need for substantially uniformly distributingthe constituents of the granular material within the container.

In addition, granular material which is loaded into a container may notbe evenly distributed within the container in that there may be a largevariation in the height of the granular material around the uppermostregion of the container. Not only does this reduce the effective storagecapacity of the container, but the areas within the container which arenot filled with granular material allow moisture to accumulate whichtends to cause the granular material to degrade to various processessuch as by the formation of mold. Accordingly, there is also a need forsubstantially evenly distributing the granular material within thecontainer.

Moreover, granular material which is stored in the container may tend toabsorb moisture at the lower funnel-shaped portion of the containerduring a rainfall. This generally occurs because the funnel-shapedportion of the container converges at an outlet portion and the flow ofrain is thus routed directly to the outlet portion along the sides ofthe container. Again, this condition degrades the granular material, aswell as clogs up the outlet portion. Accordingly, there is an additionalneed to divert the flow of rain away from the lower funnel-shapedportion of the container to maintain the lower funnel-shaped portion ofthe container in a substantially dry condition during a rainfall.

Various methods and devices have been developed in an effort todistribute granular material entering a container. As shown in FIG. 1,one particular type of device, generally known as a spreader, has beenused for distributing grain within a grain bin. Such a spreader istypically located at the upper region of the grain bin and includes aslide which is rotated by a motor. As the granular material is deliveredto the slide, the granular material flowing along the slide isdistributed at various locations within the grain bin.

While such a spreader has been used generally successfully indistributing grain within a grain bin, there are nevertheless severaldisadvantages associated with such a spreader. For example, the use of amotor to rotate the slide necessarily increases the cost of thespreader. In addition, the use of a motor to rotate the slide tends tomake the operation of the spreader susceptible to motor failure andtherefore less reliable. Furthermore, it is not generally easy todetermine whether or not the motor driving the slide has indeed failedthereby causing the slide not to rotate because the slide and the motorare generally hidden from view. Finally, such a spreader has generallyonly been associated with the distribution of grains in grain bins andhas not generally been used to distribute animal feed in feed bins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a container forstoring a granular material, said container being exposed to variousweather conditions, including rain. The container includes a spreaderfor distributing the granular material within the container. A coverportion covers the granular material distributed by the spreader, whilea sidewall member confines the granular material received by thecontainer. A converging portion in the container guides the granularmaterial to an outlet portion, while a rain shielding membersubstantially diverts the flow of rain away from the converging portion.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method forstoring a material in a container which is exposed to various weatherconditions, including rain. The method includes the steps of forming thecontainer having a cover and a sidewall member for covering andconfining the material received by the container, as well as aconverging portion which guides the material to an outlet portion.During the rain, the rain is deflected away from said converging portionto maintain the converging portion of the container in a substantiallydry condition.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a methodand apparatus for distributing granular material within a container inwhich the constituents of the granular material are substantiallyuniformly distributed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for distributing granular material within a container in whichthe level of the granular material in the container is substantiallyeven as the container is being filled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for distributing granular material within a container which isable to distribute the granular material by absorbing momentum from theinflow of the granular material.

A further related object of the present invention is to provide a methodand apparatus for distributing granular material within a containerwhich is able to reduce the amount of mold which may form on thegranular material which is stored in a container.

A related object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for distributing granular material within a container which isable to effectively increase the amount of granular material which isstored within a container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for distributing granular material within a container which isrelatively simple and low in cost, yet is reliably able to distributegranular material within a container.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for diverting the flow of rain away from the lowerfunnel-shaped portion of the container during a rainfall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appending claims. The organizationand manner of operation of the invention, together with the furtherobjects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference tothe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which identical reference numerals identify similarelements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a container forstoring granular material of the type which is known in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a containerhaving an apparatus for distributing granular material according to theteachings of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus for distributing granularmaterial as shown in FIG. 2 according to the teachings of one preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus for distributinggranular material according to the teachings of one preferred embodimentof the present invention taken along lines 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the base member shown in FIG.3 of the apparatus for distributing granular material according to theteachings of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus for distributinggranular material according to the teachings of one preferred embodimentof the present invention taken along lines 6--6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the apparatus for distributinggranular material according to the teachings of one preferred embodimentof the present invention taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 8 (A)-(F) are elevational views of the base member of theapparatus for distributing granular material shown in FIG. 4illustrating the flow of granular material along the base member;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus for distributing granularmaterial according to the teachings of another preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an apparatus for distributing granularmaterial according to the teachings of yet another preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a containerhaving an apparatus for diverting the flow of rain according to theteachings of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus for divertingthe flow of rain as shown in FIG. 11 taken about line 12 in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus for diverting theflow of rain as shown in FIGS. 11-12 taken along line 13--13 in FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention is merely exemplary in nature. Accordingly, this discussion isin no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, application ofthe invention, or the uses of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an apparatus 10 for distributing a granularmaterial is shown. The apparatus 10 may be used to distribute grains,feed or food products or other bulk materials for use in agricultural orindustrial use. The granular material may, but not necessarily, beformed from two or more constituents which may have a tendency toseparate when being stored. The apparatus 10 is shown in operativeassociation with a container 12 which is used for storing the granularmaterial. The container 12 receives an inflow of granular material froma dispensing device 14 such as an auger or a downspout. In this regard,the granular material enters the lower portion (not shown) of thedispensing device 14 and delivers the granular material to the open end16 of the container 12. As will be appreciated by those skilled in theart, the inflow of granular material from the dispensing device 14 tothe container 12 has a given momentum in that the granular material hasboth velocity and mass.

The container 12 includes an upper cover portion 18 which is used tocover the granular material within the container 12. The cover portion18 may include a lid and corresponding opening device (not shown) whichis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,183, which is hereby incorporated byreference. The container 12 further includes a generally circularsidewall portion 20 which is used for containing the granular materialreceived by the container 12. In addition, the container 12 includes alower funnel-shaped portion 22 which is used for guiding the granularmaterial downward into a lower outlet portion 24. As those skilled inthe art will appreciate, the lower outlet portion 24 permits removal ofthe granular material from the container 12 by any suited means such asthat which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,230, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Preferably, the cover portion 18 is generally conical in shape and hasan angle of inclination which is substantially equal to the angle ofrepose of the granular material. For example, if the granular materialis chicken feed which has an angle of repose of approximately 40°, thenthe angle of inclination of the cover portion 18 is preferably alsoapproximately 40°. Because the angle of inclination of the cover portion18 is relatively large, a greater amount of granular material can bestored in the container 12. This is because the volume of the container12 defined by the walls of the cover portion 18 is larger than when theangle of inclination of the cover portion 18 is lower. In addition, byhaving the angle of inclination of the cover portion 18 not greater thanthe angle of repose of the granular material, the space or void createdbetween the granular material and the inner surface of the cover portion18 is minimized. It will be appreciated that the presence of thesespaces or voids may otherwise tend to cause the granular material todegrade such as by the formation of mold.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the container 12 maybe a feed storage bin of the type which is available from Chore-Time orBrock, Milford, Ind. However, it will be understood that the presentinvention may be used with other types of containers as well as used fordistributing other types of granular materials. In this regard, thecontainer 12 may be used for storing other types of agriculturalmaterials, consumable materials, industrial materials, chemicalmaterials as well as virtually any other type of granular material. Inaddition, while the container 12 is shown as being generally cylindricalin shape with a conically-shaped cover portion 18, the container 12 maybe of virtually any other shape which is suitable for storing thegranular material. Accordingly, the container may be rectangular,hexagonal, octagonal or any other suitable shape.

The apparatus 10 will now be more fully described with reference toFIGS. 3-7. The apparatus 10 comprises a conical member 26 which has anupper portion 28 which is operable to receive the inflow of granularmaterial from the dispensing device 14. In addition, the conical member26 has a lower portion 30 which is able to deliver the inflow ofgranular material to a base member which is more fully described below.The conical member 26 serves to concentrate the inflow of granularmaterial received from the dispensing device 14 and direct the inflow tothe base member.

Preferably, the outside diameter of the upper end of the upper portion28 is about 21 inches, while the inside diameter of the lower end of thelower portion 30 is approximately 8 inches. The height of the conicalmember 26 is preferably about 12.5 inches. The walls of the upperportion 28 are angled at approximately 40° from vertical, while thewalls of the lower portion 30 extend approximately 11° from vertical.The upper portion 28 of the conical member 26 meets the lower portion 30of the conical member 26 at a point where the inside diameter of theconical member 28 is approximately 10 inches. The upper end of the upperportion 28 includes a 1 inch flat on the upper surface of the conicalmember 26 so as to provide a region for engaging the mechanical linkageswhich are described below. It will be appreciated that the conicalmember 26 may be of other suitable shapes. In addition, while theconical member 26 may preferably be made from 16 gauge galvanized steel,any other suitable materials may be used. Such materials would includepolymeric based materials.

The conical member 26 is mechanically connected to the region of thecover portion 18 which is proximate to the open end 16 of the container12. To provide this mechanical connection, the conical member 26includes a plurality of mechanical linkages 32 which may be used toremovably secure the conical member 26 to the container 12. Themechanical linkages 32 also provide means for changing the position ofthe base member 46 in response to the height of the granular materialwithin the container 12. In this regard, the mechanical linkages 32 areoperable to permit limited rotational movement of the apparatus 10 asthe level of the granular material in the container 12 increases towhere the granular material contacts the apparatus 10. This limitedrotational movement of the apparatus 10 permitted by the mechanicallinkages 32 serves to limit damage to the apparatus 10 which mayotherwise be caused as the level of the granular material in thecontainer 12 increases and contacts the apparatus 10. While themechanical linkages 32 made may preferably be chain linkages and/orquick linkages, any other suitable means for securing the conical member26 to the container 12 may be used. For example, the mechanical linkages32 may be cables, or any other suitable type of metallic or polymericfasteners.

To provide means for distributing the granular material within thecontainer 12, the apparatus 10 further includes a base member 34. Thebase member 34 receives the inflow of the granular material from theconical member 26 and distributes the constituents of the granularmaterial in a substantially uniform manner within the container 12. As aresult, the constituents of the granular material are distributed withinthe container 12 such that the constituents are able to be withdrawnfrom the container 12 in substantially the same proportion as they wereinitially delivered to the container 12. For example, in the case offeed for chickens in which the granular material includes both a coarseconstituent and a fine constituent, both the coarse and fineconstituents are distributed substantially uniformly within thecontainer 12. The fine and coarse constituents are therefore able to bewithdrawn from the container 12 so as to provide a uniform source offeed.

In addition, the base member 34 also serves to substantially evenlydistribute the granular material within the container. In this regard,the variation in the height of granular material within the container 12is relatively low. Because the granular material is substantially evenlydistributed within the container, the effective storage capacity of thecontainer 12 is increased. In addition, spaces within the container 12which are not filled with the granular material are minimized whichwould otherwise allow moisture to accumulate and therefore degrade thegranular material such as by the formation of mold.

The base member 34 includes a generally quadrilateral channel or centralportion 36 as well as an upper end portion 38 which is generallysymmetrically curvilinear in shape and a lower end portion 40 which isgenerally asymmetrically curvilinear in shape. As will be more fullydescribed below, granular material which is delivered to the base member34 from the conical member 26 is received by the central portion 36 andthen flows along the central portion 36 as well as the lower end portion40. When the granular material reaches the edge of the lower end portion40, the granular material falls away from the base member 34 and issubstantially evenly distributed into the container 12. The base member34 further includes a first sidewall member 42 as well as a secondsidewall member 44. The first and second sidewall members 42 and 44 areoperable to guide the flow of granular material along the centralportion 36 to the lower end portion 40 of the base member 34 and preventthe granular material from falling laterally off the sides of the basemember 34. The sidewall member 42 is roughly triangular in shape in thatthe upper region of the sidewall member 42 extends approximately 2inches from the central portion 36 of the base member 34 while the lowerportion of the sidewall member 42 extends approximately 3.6 inches fromthe central portion 36 of the base member 34. In addition, the secondsidewall member 44 is roughly rectangular in shape and extendsapproximately 2.4 inches upward with respect to the central portion 36of the base member 34.

To provide means for supporting the base member 34 within the container12, the apparatus 10 further includes a base support member 46. The basesupport member 46 extends vertically downward from the conical member 26to the base member 34. The upper portion 48 of the base support member46 is secured to the upper portion 28 of the conical member 26 by afirst plurality of support members 50. Each of the first plurality ofsupport members 50 mechanically communicates both with a first bearingmember 52 and with the upper portion 28 of the conical member 26. In asimilar fashion, the base support member 46 is also supported withrespect to the lower portion 30 of the conical member 26 by a secondplurality of support members 54. The second plurality of support members54 extend between a second bearing member 56 and a lower portion 30 ofthe conical member 26. The first and second bearing members 52 and 56serve to permit relative rotation between the base support member 46 andthe conical member 26. In addition, the first and second plurality ofsupport members 50 and 54 serve to direct the flow of granular materialwithin the conical member 26 by limiting rotational movement of theinflow of granular material as the granular material is received by theconical member 26.

To provide means for supporting the base member 32 with respect to thebase support member 46, the apparatus 10 further includes a bearingblock assembly 58. The bearing block assembly 58 is disposed on thelower surface 60 of the base member 34 and is secured thereto bysuitable fasteners such as bolts. In addition, the bearing blockassembly 58 also is secured to the lower portion of the base supportmember 46. It will be appreciated that the bearing block assembly 58 maybe of any suitable construction which is capable of supporting the basemember 34 with respect to the base support member 46.

The base member 34 is canted with respect to the base support member 46so as to allow the inflow of granular material to slide along the basemember 34 in a direction generally towards the lower lefthand portion ofthe base member 34 as shown in FIG. 3. In this regard, the base member34 is canted at an angle of approximately 40°-45° with respect to thebase support member 46 when viewed in the manner shown in FIG. 4. Inaddition, the base member 34 is canted by approximately 5° with respectto base support member 46 when viewed as shown in FIG. 6.

To provide means for forming a plurality of flow paths for the granularmaterial, the base member 34 further includes a plurality of vanes62-68. The vanes 62-68 serve to absorb momentum from the inflow ofgranular material in such a manner as to rotate the base member 34 at asubstantially constant angular velocity as will be more fully describedbelow. By rotating the base member 34 at a substantially constantangular velocity, the distribution of granular material within thecontainer 12 is substantially even. In this regard, the variation in theheight of the granular material within the container 12 across the uppersurface of the granular material is substantially within 18 inches whilethe granular material is being loaded into the container 12.

The vanes 62-68 are disposed on the central portion 36 as well as on thelower end portion 40 of the base member 34 and are of different lengthsand shapes. In this regard, the first end 70 of the vane 62 is disposedfurther from the base support member 46 than the first end 72 of thevane 64. In a similar fashion, the first end 72 of the vane 64 isdisposed further from the base support member 46 than the first end 74of the vane 66. However, the first end 76 of the vane 68 is disposedfurther from the base support member 46 than the first end 74 of thevane 66. The second ends 78-84 of each of the vanes 62-68 are disposedproximate to the edge of the lower end portion 40 of the base member 34.The vanes 62-68 are secured to the base member 34 by means of aplurality of tabs (not shown) which extend through the central portion36 and the lower end portion 40 of the base member 34 and are thentwisted to provide interfering engagement therewith. In this regard,each of the vanes 62-68 have a tab located at their upper end as well asapproximately at their midportions which are operable to be insertedthrough corresponding slots (not shown) in the base member 34. The lowerportions of the vanes 62-68 are not secured to the lower end portion 40of the base member 34 so as to permit the vanes 62-68 to be manuallyshaped if necessary to provide proper operation.

The lengths and the shapes of the vanes are selected so that themomentum absorbed by the vanes 62-68 from the inflow of granularmaterial will cause the base member 34 to rotate at a substantiallyconstant angular velocity. With respect to length, it will be noted thatthe vane 62 is longer than the vane 64, while the vane 64 is longer thanthe vane 66. In addition, the vane 66 is longer than the vane 68.Preferably, the vane 62 is 11.8 inches in length, while the vane 64 isapproximately 12.6 inches in length. The vane 66 is 12.2 inches inlength, while the vane 68 is approximately 8 inches in length. It willbe appreciated, however, that other suitable lengths may be used whichprovide substantially the same results as that which is describedherein.

With respect to the shape, each of the vanes 62-68 has a correspondingarcuate portions 86-92 which define a concave surface as well as aconvex surface. The curvature of the arcuate portions 86-92 for each ofthe vanes 62-68 is different. Preferably, the arcuate portion 86 of thevane 62 is formed by sweeping an arc of 28.1° at a radius of 24 inches.In a similar fashion, the arcuate portion 88 of the vane 64 is formed bya sweeping an arc of 30.0° at a radius of approximately 24.0 inches. Inaddition, the arcuate portion 90 of the vane 66 is formed by sweeping anarc of 43.6° at a radius of 16.0°, while the arcuate portion 92 of thevane 68 is formed by sweeping an arc of approximately 19.1° at a radiusof approximately 24.0 inches. However, the arcuate portions 86-92 may beof other shapes so long as the vanes 62-68 function in a manner similarto that described herein.

The vanes 62-68 are operable to form a plurality of flow paths 94-102for the granular material received by the base member 34. In thisregard, the flow path 94 is formed between the first sidewall member 42of the base member 34 and the vane 62. In a similar fashion, the flowpath 96 is formed between the vane 62 and the vane 64, while the flowpath 98 is formed between the vane 64 and the vane 66. In addition, theflow path 100 is formed between the vane 66 and the vane 68, while theflow path 102 is formed between the vane 68 and the right most edge ofthe base member 34 as shown in FIG. 5. The amount of granular materialflowing through the flow paths 94-102 will vary depending on therotational position of the base member 34. That is, the amount ofgranular material flowing through each of the flow paths 94-102 willvary as the base member 34 rotates.

To permit the base member 34 to distribute the granular material in asubstantially even fashion within the container 12, it is important thatthe base member 34 rotate at a substantially constant angular velocity.There are generally three factors which affect the angular velocity atwhich the base member 34 rotates. These factors are (a) the amount ofgranular material flowing through each of the flow paths 94-102, (b) theextent to which the vanes 62-68 deflect the flow of granular materialand therefore absorb the momentum of the granular material, and (c) theextent to which the flow of granular material is deflected by thesidewall member 42 of the base member 34 and therefore absorbs momentum.The structure of the vanes 62-68 causes these factors to be balanced insuch a manner as to allow the base member 34 to rotate at asubstantially constant angular velocity. The balancing of these factorsis particularly difficult given the fact that the flow of granularmaterial from the conical member 26 onto the base member 34 is generallyuneven. This is because the inflow of granular material to the conicalmember 26 is not typically directed to the center of the conical member26, but is typically directed to the sides of the conical member 26.

The manner in which the vanes 62-68 serve to balance these factors tocause the base member to rotate at a substantially constant angularvelocity is illustrated in FIGS. 8(A)-(F). Region A as shown in FIGS.8(A)-(F) represents an area where the amount of granular materialflowing from the conical member 26 to the base member 34 is relativelylow, while the region B represents an area on the base member 34 wherethe amount of granular material flowing from the conical member 26 tothe base member 34 is relatively high. In addition, the arrows shown inFIGS. 8(A)-(F) which extend from region B of the base member 34 serve toindicate the direction of flow of granular material from region B alongthe base member 34. While the inflow of granular material received bythe base member 34 has generally been divided into two regions, it willbe understood that this representation has been used for purposes ofsimplifying this discussion.

When the base member 34 is oriented in the position shown in FIG. 8(A),the amount of granular material flowing through each of the flow paths94-102 is approximately the same. The momentum which is absorbed by thevanes 62-68 which tends to cause the base member 34 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction is therefore primarily the result of thedeflection of the granular material which is deflected by the concavesurfaces of the vanes 62-68. The flow of granular material acting on theconvex surfaces of the vanes 62-68 is relatively low as is the flow ofgranular material which is acting on the sidewall member 42.Accordingly, a relatively small amount of granular material is deflectedby the convex surfaces of the vanes 62-68 and the sidewall member 42 andtherefore the momentum absorbed by the vanes 62-68 which tends to opposecounterclockwise rotation of the base member 34 is relatively low.

As base member 34 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 8(B), there isan increase in the flow of the granular material through the flow paths94-98 while there is a decrease in flow of granular material through theflow paths 100 and 102. Because the amount of granular material flowingthrough the flow paths 94-98 increases, there is also a correspondingincrease in the granular material flowing along the base member 34 whichis deflected by the concaved surfaces of the arcuate portions 86-90 ofthe vanes 62-66 which have the greatest degree of curvature.Accordingly, the vanes 62-66 therefore absorb more momentum from thegranular material which would otherwise tend to cause an increase inangular velocity of the base member 34 in the counterclockwisedirection. However, there is also a corresponding increase in the amountof granular material deflected by the convex surfaces of the vanes 62-66as well as by the sidewall member 42, both of which tend to oppose thecounterclockwise rotation of the base member 34. As a result, theangular velocity of the base member 34 tends to remain substantiallyconstant.

As the base member 34 continues to rotate to a position shown in FIG.8(C), the flow of granular material flowing through the flow paths 94and 96 increases while there is a decrease in flow of granular materialthrough the flow paths 98-102. Because the vanes 62-64, which establishthe flow paths 94 and 96, have arcuate portions 86 and 88 with thehighest degree of curvature, a relatively large amount of granularmaterial is deflected by the concave surfaces of the vanes 62 and 64.While this would otherwise cause the angular velocity at which the basemember 34 rotates to increase in the counterclockwise direction, thereis also a corresponding increase in the amount of granular materialacting on the sidewall member 42 as well as the convex surfaces of thevanes 62 and 64 which tends to oppose the counterclockwise rotation ofthe base member 34. Accordingly, the angular velocity of the base member34 remains substantially constant.

As the base member 34 is rotated further to a position shown in FIG.8(D), the flow of granular material through the flow paths 94-102 ismore evenly distributed when compared to the position of the base member34 shown in FIG. 8(C). Accordingly, the amount of granular materialflowing through the flow paths 94 and 96 which are defined in part bythe arcuate portions 86 and 88 which have the greatest curvature isreduced and therefore the momentum absorbed from the granular materialby the concave surfaces of vanes 62 and 64 is reduced. While this wouldotherwise cause the angular velocity at which the base member 34 rotatesto decrease in the counterclockwise direction, less granular material isalso acting on the sidewall member 42 as well as the convex surfaces ofthe vanes 62 and 64. Accordingly, there is also a decrease in the forceswhich tend to oppose counterclockwise rotation of the base member 34. Asa result, the base member 34 rotates at a substantially constant angularvelocity.

As the base member 34 rotates into a position shown in FIG. 8(E), theamount of granular material flowing through the flow paths 94-98 againincreases. Accordingly, the momentum which is absorbed by the concavedsurfaces of the vanes 62-66 tends to increase the angular velocity atwhich the base member 34 rotates in the counterclockwise direction.However, there is also a corresponding increase in the amount ofmomentum absorbed by the sidewall member 42 as well as by the convexsurface of the vanes 62-66 which tends to oppose rotation of the basemember in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, there issubstantially no change in the angular velocity at which the base member34 rotates. After the base member 34 rotates to the position shown inFIG. 8(F), the flow of granular material through the flow paths 94 and96 increases which increases the momentum absorbed by the concavesurfaces of the vanes 62 and 64. At the same time, there is an increasein the amount of granular material acting on the sidewall member 42 aswell as on the convex surface of the vanes 62 and 64. Accordingly, theangular velocity at which the base member 34 rotates remainssubstantially uniform.

The method of the present invention will now be described. Initially,the base member 34 is formed having vanes 62-68 which create the flowpaths 94-102 for the inflow of a granular material. The flow of granularmaterial through the flow paths 94-102 causes the vanes 62-68 to absorbmomentum from the granular material which induces base member 34 torotate. The flow of the granular material through each of the flow paths94-102 is then changed while the base member 34 rotates which causes achange in the momentum which is absorbed by the vanes 62-68. As a resultof this change in the momentum which is absorbed by the vanes 62-68, thebase member 34 rotates at a substantially uniform angular velocity.

The second preferred embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference FIG. 9. In this regard, like numerals will beused to reference similar elements which have been described inconjunction with the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus 10 includes a conical member 26 which isoperable to receive an inflow of granular material from a dispensingdevice 14. The conical member 26 is connected to a region of the coverportion 18 which is approximate to the open end 16 of the container 12by a plurality of mechanical linkages 32. The apparatus 10 furtherincludes a base member 34 which receives the inflow of granular materialfrom the conical member 26 and distributes the constituents granularmaterial in a substantially uniform manner within the container 12. Thebase member 34 has a plurality of vanes 62-68, which are operable toform a plurality of flow paths 94-102, as well as first and secondsidewall members 42 and 44 which serve to guide the flow of granularmaterial along the base member 34 to the lower end portion 40 of thebase member 34. In addition, the apparatus 10 further includes a basesupport member 46 which extends downwardly from the conical member 26 tothe base member 34 and is used to support the base member 34 within thecontainer 12.

To provide means for directing the inflow of the granular material intothe conical member 26, the apparatus 10 further includes a firstapertured conical member 104 and a second apertured conical member 106.The first and second apertured conical members 104 and 106 are disposedcoaxially with respect to each other as well as with respect to theconical member 26. The first and second apertured conical members 104and 106 each include a plurality of apertures 108 which are located suchthat the apertures 108 in the first apertured conical member 104 arelaterally displaced with respect to the apertures 108 in the secondapertured conical member 106. The apertures 108 in the first and secondapertured conical members 104 and 106 disburse the inflow of granularmaterial into the apparatus 10 so that the inflow is received moreevenly by conical member 26.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.10. In this regard, like reference numerals are used to identify similarstructures. The apparatus 10 includes a conical member 26 which isoperable to receive an inflow of granular material from a dispensingdevice 14, and is connected to the region of the cover portion 18 whichis approximate to the open end 16 of the container 12 by a plurality ofmechanical linkages 32. The apparatus 10 further includes a base member34 which receives the inflow of granular material from the conicalmember 26 and distributes the constituents of the granular material in asubstantially uniformly within the container 12. The base member 34 hasa plurality of vanes 62-68 which are operable to form a plurality offlow paths 94-102, as well as first and second sidewall members 42 and44 which serve to guide the flow of granular material along the basemember 34 to the lower end portion 40 of the base member 34. Inaddition, the apparatus 10 further includes a base support member 46which extends downwardly from the conical member 26 to the base member34 and is used to support the base member 34 within the container 12.

The apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of tubular members 110.The tubular members 110 are disposed on the upper portion 28 of theconical member 26 and have apertures 112 which extend vertically. Thetubular members 110 serve to receive an inflow of granular material andchannel the granular material into the conical member 26. By channelingthe granular material in this manner, the inflow of granular material isreceived more evenly by the conical member 26.

Turning to FIGS. 11-13, another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. In this regard, like reference numerals are used toidentify similar structures. As was previously discussed, the spreaderapparatus 10 is used to distribute grains, feed or food products orother materials into the container 12. The container 12 receives theinflow of material from the dispensing device 14 through the open end 16of the container 12. The inflow of the material from the dispensingdevice 14 to the container 12 has a given momentum which allowsdistribution of the granular material about the inside of the container12, via apparatus 10.

The container 12 includes the upper cover portion 18 which covers thegranular material received within the container 12, as well as thetubular-shaped sidewall member 20 which confines the granular materialreceived by the container 12. The sidewall member 20 includes an upperportion 114 attached to the cover portion 18 and a lower portion 116.The lower portion 116 is attached to the lower funnel-shaped orconverging portion 22 which guides the granular material into the loweroutlet portion 24.

The container 12 further includes a water shield member 118 whichextends down from the lower portion 116 of the sidewall member 20. Thewater shield member 118 preferably extends about two (2") inches toabout four (4") inches down from a point 120 where the lower portion 116of the sidewall member 20 attaches to the funnel-shaped portion 22. Thesidewall member 20, as well as the water shield member 118, isconstructed from a galvanized metal having a plurality of corrugatedribs 122, shown more clearly in FIGS. 12-13. The water shield member 118can consist of an integral extension of the sidewall member 20 or it canconsist of a separate member which is bolted or riveted to the sidewallmember 20. The water shield member 118, as shown in FIGS. 12-13, isintegral to the sidewall member 20 which is bolted to the funnel-shapedportion 22 and support beam 124 with bolts 126. The water shield member118 includes attachment holes 128 which allow attachment of additionalextension members (not shown) which may be used to provide a furtherextension of the sidewall member 20. Such additional extension membersmay be used to provide a more aesthetically pleasing container 12 or toprovide additional deflection for the flow of rain, as will be discussedshortly.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that during arainfall, rain will flow down the sidewall member 20 and the watershield member 118. This will ultimately cause the rain to be distributedabout a base perimeter 130 of the container 12. Thus, the presence ofthe water shield member 118 substantially inhibits or prevents the flowof rain along and down the funnel-shaped portion 22 into the loweroutlet portion 24, thereby maintaining the funnel-shaped portion 22 andthe lower outlet portion 24 in a substantially dry condition during therainfall. In contrast, in a conventional container 12 without the watershield member 118, the flow of rain would be directed from the cover 18along the sidewall member 20 and then down along the funnel-shapedportion 22 converging the flow of rain at the lower outlet portion 24.

The method for storing the granular material in the container 12 whichis exposed to various weather conditions, including rain, will now bedescribed. Initially, the container 12 is formed having the coverportion 18 attached to the upper portion 114 of the sidewall member 20and the funnel-shaped portion 22 attached to the lower portion 116 ofthe sidewall member 20. The funnel-shaped portion 22 guides the granularmaterial to the outlet portion 24 and the rain shielding member 118substantially inhibits the flow of rain along the funnel-shaped portion22. Once the container 12 is formed, the container 12 is susceptible tobeing exposed to various weather conditions, including rain. If itbegins to rain, the rain will impact upon the cover portion 18, as wellas the sidewall member 20, and flow downward along the sidewall member20. As the rain flows downward, it is deflected away from thefunnel-shaped portion 22 to maintain the underside of container 12 in asubstantially dry condition.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoingdescription that the broad teachings of the present invention can beimplemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention hasbeen described in connection with particular examples thereof, the truescope of the invention should not be so limited. For example, the basemember may be of other geometric structures which nevertheless serve toform a plurality of flow paths for the granular material. In thisregard, the vanes may be of different shapes and configurations as maybe the end portions of the base member. In addition, the orientation ofthe vanes on the base member may also vary. Furthermore, the base membermay preferably rotate at an angular velocity of less then approximately10 revolutions per minute, the base member may rotate at other angularvelocities so long as distribution of the granular material is generallyevenly and/or uniformly distributed within the container as describedabove. Moreover, the container may be of different shapes. For example,the container may be tubular, rectangular or octagonal. Othermodifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for storing material, said containerbeing exposed to weather conditions including rain, said containercomprising;a cover portion operable to substantially cover said materialstored in said container; an outlet portion operable to deliver saidmaterial from said container; a sidewall member having an upper portionand a lower portion, said upper portion of said sidewall member beingattached to said cover portion, said sidewall member operable to confinesaid material stored in said container; a converging portion having anupper peripheral edge portion attached to said lower portion of saidsidewall member, said converging portion extending below the lowerportion of said sidewall member being operable to guide said material insaid container to said outlet portion; and a rain shielding member beingan internal extension of said sidewall member, said rain shieldingmember extending downwardly from said upper peripheral edge portion ofsaid converging portion having a generally tubular shape extending fromsaid lower portion of said sidewall member which is positioned adjacentto and away from said converging portion, said rain shielding memberbeing operable to substantially inhibit the flow of rain from along saidsidewall member to along said converging portion to maintain saidconverging portion in a substantially dry condition during a rainfall.2. The container for storing material as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid sidewall member and said rain shielding member are formed as asingle structure.
 3. The container for storing material as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said rain shielding member surrounds said upper edge ofsaid converging portion.
 4. The container for storing material as setforth in claim 1, wherein said rain shielding member is generallyconcentric with said converging portion.
 5. The container for storingmaterial as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rain shielding memberextends from said sidewall member by about two inches to about fourinches.
 6. The container for storing material as set forth in claim 1,wherein said rain shielding member includes attachment means forextending the length of said sidewall member.
 7. The container forstoring material as set forth in claim 1, further comprising spreadermeans for distributing said material within said container.
 8. Acontainer for storing granular material, said container being exposed toweather conditions including rain, said container comprising:spreadermeans for distributing said granular material within said container; acover portion for covering said granular material distributed by saidspreader means; a sidewall member for confining said granular materialstored in said container, said sidewall member having an upper portioncoupled to said cover portion and a lower portion; a converging portionfor guiding said granular material in said container to an outletportions, said converging portion having an upper peripheral edgeportion member and extending below said lower portion of said sidewallmember; and rain shielding means for substantially diverting the flow ofrain away from and along said converging portion being an integralextension of said sidewall member and extending downward from said upperperipheral edge portion, said rain shielding means of said sidewallmember positioned adjacent to said converging portion, wherein said rainshielding means is displaced away from said converging portion tosubstantially inhibit the flow of rain from down along said sidewallmember to down along said converging portion to maintain said convergingportion in a substantially dry condition during a rainfall.
 9. Thecontainer for storing granular material as set forth in claim 8, whereinsaid rain shielding means is a unitary extension of said sidewallmember.
 10. The container for storing granular material as set forth inclaim 9, wherein said rain shielding member is generally tubular inshape and concentric with said converging portion.
 11. The container forstoring granular material as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sidewallmember and said rain shielding member are formed from a singlestructure.
 12. The container for storing granular material as set forthin claim 11, wherein said rain shielding member extends from saidsidewall member by about two inches to about four inches.
 13. A methodfor storing granular material in a container which is exposed to weatherconditions including rain, said method comprising the steps of:forming acontainer operable to store said granular material, said container beingdefined at least by:(a) a cover portion operable to cover said granularmaterial, (b) an outlet portion operable to deliver said granularmaterial from said container, (c) a sidewall member having an upperperipheral edge portion being connected to said cover portion andoperable to confine said granular material received by said container,(d) a converging portion having an upper peripheral edge portionconnected to a lower portion of said sidewall member and extending belowthe lower portion of said sidewall member to guide said granularmaterial in said container to said outlet portion, and (e) a rainshielding member being an integral extension of said lower portion ofsaid sidewall member extending downwardly from said upper peripheraledge portion of said converging portion, said rain shielding memberhaving a generally tubular shape which radially extends down from saidlower portion of said sidewall member and is positioned adjacent to andaway from said converging portion, said rain shielding member operableto substantially inhibit the flow of rain from along said sidewallmember to along said converging portion; and deflecting andsubstantially inhibiting the flow of rain along said cover and saidsidewall member away from and along said converging portion with saidrain shielding member.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 13 whereinthe step of forming said container further includes the step of formingsaid rain shielding member with said sidewall member as a single member.